A Chinese student has been arrested and charged with illegally photographing US military aircraft, including a command plane known as 'Nightwatch'. Tianrui Liang, 21, was taken into custody at a New York airport on 7 April as he attempted to leave the United States for Glasgow, Scotland, where he is studying.
According to the FBI, Liang admitted taking photos of an RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft and an E-4B at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska during a road trip in late March. The E-4B, designated 'Nightwatch', serves as an airborne command centre for the US president and military officials in emergencies.
The FBI stated that it is illegal to photograph or sketch defence installations without approval, although images of both aircraft types are freely available online. Liang told investigators he believed it was 'legal to take pictures of the sky, but he knew it was illegal to take pictures of the planes on the ground'. He said the photos were for his personal collection.
Liang's attorney, Jeff Thomas, declined to comment on Tuesday. Liang has not yet appeared in federal court in Omaha. The FBI affidavit revealed that Liang flew to Vancouver, Canada, on 26 March, met a friend, and drove across the US border before travelling alone to Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota. He had also expressed interest in visiting Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma.
